From Windows 3.1 to Windows 8.1, pressing Alt+Space while in a program would bring up the system menu with options like Restore, Move, Size, Maximize, and Minimize. However, this keyboard shortcut no longer works in Windows 10 Build 1803, even though it has become a deeply ingrained habit for someone who has been using Windows for over 25 years.
Although the system menu can still be accessed by clicking on the top left corner, a keyboard shortcut is needed when the title bar is not visible. The user is wondering if there is a way to enable this behavior for all programs and windows.
In an update, the user realized that they use Alt+Space outside of Chrome and miss the keyboard shortcut. Another update reveals that the Alt key on the right-hand side of the Space bar no longer works for this function in Windows 10, even though it had been used for over 25 years.
It is speculated that this issue may only affect Dell computers or certain versions of Windows 10.
2 Answers
Introduction
As a long-time Windows user, you might be familiar with the keyboard shortcut Alt+Space that opens the system menu. However, you may have noticed that this shortcut doesn’t work in Windows 10, specifically in Build 1803 and later versions. In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons behind this issue and discuss possible solutions to enable this behavior for all programs/windows.
What is the system menu?
Before we delve into the reasons why Alt+Space doesn’t work in Windows 10, let’s first define what the system menu is. The system menu is a menu popup that appears when you click on the icon in the top left corner of a window. It contains menu items like Restore, Move, Size, Maximize, and Minimize. This menu is used to perform various actions on a window, such as resizing, moving, minimizing, or maximizing it.
Why Alt+Space doesn’t work in Windows 10?
The reason why Alt+Space doesn’t work in Windows 10 is that Microsoft has changed the behavior of the Alt key in recent versions of the operating system. In Windows 10, the Alt key on the right-hand side of the Space bar is no longer recognized as a system key, unlike in previous versions of Windows.
This change was made to address an issue with certain keyboard layouts that use the AltGr key, which is located on the right-hand side of the Space bar. In some cases, the AltGr key was being mistaken for the Alt key, causing unexpected behavior in applications.
As a result, the Alt key on the left-hand side of the Space bar is now the only key recognized as a system key in Windows 10. This means that keyboard shortcuts that use the Alt key on the right-hand side of the Space bar, such as Alt+Space, no longer work.
How to enable Alt+Space for all programs/windows?
If you’re used to using Alt+Space to open the system menu and find it frustrating that it no longer works in Windows 10, there are a few possible solutions you can try.
One solution is to remap the Alt+Space keyboard shortcut to a different key combination that works in Windows 10. To do this, you can use a third-party tool like AutoHotkey, which allows you to create custom keyboard shortcuts and remap existing ones. For example, you could remap Alt+Space to Ctrl+Shift+Space or any other combination that works for you.
Another solution is to use a utility like 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, which allows you to customize the taskbar and window behavior in Windows 10. This utility includes an option to enable Alt+Space for all programs/windows, even if the default behavior is disabled. To use this option, simply download and install 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, open the program, go to the “Advanced Options” tab, and check the box next to “Enable Alt+Space system menu for all programs/windows.”
If you’re using a Dell computer and experiencing this issue, you can also try the solution suggested in Dell’s support article. This involves disabling the “Use right Ctrl key as AltGr” option in the Dell Keyboard settings. To do this, go to the Dell Keyboard settings, click on the “Advanced Key Settings” tab, and uncheck the box next to “Use right Ctrl key as AltGr.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Alt+Space keyboard shortcut for opening the system menu doesn’t work in Windows 10 because Microsoft has changed the behavior of the Alt key in recent versions of the operating system. While this change was made to address an issue with certain keyboard layouts, it has caused frustration for many long-time Windows users who are used to using Alt+Space. However, there are several solutions available, such as remapping the keyboard shortcut, using a utility like 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, or disabling the “Use right Ctrl key as AltGr” option in Dell Keyboard settings.
It is likely that the problem with the Alt+Space keyboard shortcut not working in Windows 10 only affects Dell laptops or computers. The person does not have a solution for Windows 10, but they found a fix for Windows 7 in the link provided.
For Windows 10, they suggest using the left Alt+Space keys instead.